‘We don’t want a picture president’

Alh.
Modou Khan, a native of Dingerai village in Niani District, Central River
Region has said that The Gambia does not want a ‘picture president’- i.e.A president who is too old and would not be
able to function effectively.

The
Gambia, he said, needs a young educated president, who can bring about robust
development and thus urged the Constitutional Review Commission to include an
age-limit in the new constitution.

Khan
was speaking on Tuesday at Feridawsy village during the ongoing civic education
public sensitization campaign organized by National Council for Civic Education
(NCCE) in partnership with the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC). The
ongoing outreach is design to prepare and set the ground for the public
consultations across the country.

Alh.
Sait Sallah, a native of Fass Yallal, underscored the importance of education,
saying education is what develops a nation and as such anyone vying for president,
national assembly member, chairperson or councilor’s position should be someone
who is educated.

Sallah
also called for the introduction of the presidential term limit in the new
constitution, adding that once presidents over stayed they tend to abuse power.

Batch
Mbye of Feridawsy village, said the monthly earning of most Gambians is very
low and as such, free basic education should be extended to university level.

He
made reference to countries where university students enjoyed free education
and accommodation courtesy of their governments, saying The Gambia should
introduce the same.

On
citizenship, Mbaye believes that anyone born in The Gambia even when both
parents are foreigners should be given citizenship.

Samba
Thop of Feridawsy and Maimuna Barry, lady councilor of Wassu ward all in Niani
district, called for the empowerment of women in the new constitution.

She
indicated that in most cases women are not fully considered when it comes to
inheritance and land ownership and called on the CRC to capture that aspect in
the new constitution.

Barry
urges all to positively contribute in the drafting of the new constitution, to
ensure it is a constitution for all and by all.

Saikou
Jarra, chairman of Wassu Village Development Committee, said it is a blessing
that everybody is given the opportunity to contribute in the drafting of the
new constitution.

Wassu
Deputy, Imam Alh. Sankung Suwareh urges youths to take a lead in the drafting
of the new constitution as future leaders.

Alh.
Pierre Bah chief of Niani commended the CRC for the outreach tour, saying that
citizens’ drafting the new constitution is a move to the right direction.

Chief
Bah tasked people of his district to come out in their numbers on the day of
the consultation proper and add their inputs.